Automatic stop mechanism for sewing machines



Dec. 12, 1933.

L. ROSEMAN AUTOMATIC STOP MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES I Filed June 26, 1931 4" Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

By I ATTORNEYS Dec. 12, 1933. ROSEMAN AUTOMATIC STOP MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed June 26, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 f INVENTOR A TTORNEYS.

Dec. 12, 1933. ROSEMAN 1,939,464

AUTOMATIC STOP MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed June 26, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 I N VEN TOR.

M A TTORNEYS.

Dec. 12, 1933. v I RQSEMAN 1,939,464

AUTOMATIC STOP MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Fild June 26, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 (Nu-r sEwzu T INVEN TOR. M

I A TTORNEYS Patented Dec. 12, 1933 y a J AUTOMATIC STOP MECHANISM FOR 5 SEWING-MACHINES vsm N ve kxii- Applieation June 26, 1931. Serial No; 547,039 19 Qlaiims. (01.11 2 2) This invention relates i'ge'r'iefally to machines actuating afsign'ai or stopping the. machine, etc. for operatingnpon material hav'ing objots iiiotopi'bvidela novel and improved combination of truding therefrom insiiaed' relation, aiidiriio'r'e alpluiality"ofsuhinieiiibets and oii'cuit .oontrol specifically to s wing maoliinesffoiTsiiiifig'fasnieohaiiisriis abti a td thereby, whereby said ten'er elements, sueh as hooks, upon members and 'otlit' control 'mechanisms are 'fabridinoluding'noveiand-impro I jechaiiisiii n rma as ncmonously'operated' when th pr'ofor automatically actuating afsig'n'aloi feifstdm i ti fifi r i biedts a i prop p i io or D g slicha sewing maehin'e whenmhe 't'hrad piobeilyatta'chedto the'woifk, to prevent com breaks, or when the suppiy or thread mebebpil t closing ,0 the el lc r' n s i 0 when any fastener element is" notjii'oijerly of same time so asto'eompletely close the circuit sufficiently sewed to the fabric'joiflvvhen'afaswh n anobje t is misplaced or missing, or i tener element is niisplaced fr'om its proper or e l a a e o rw as to t sitionor entirely missing. The invention is' also he i nal of t p the m hin n to obtain intended for use Wherever itfn'iaybe desired to ther advantage a d l a f l b u t 7.0 provide mechanism controlled in accordance with 2 3" w fldes o i the presence or absence; oraccuraey of location For t pi 'p of illustrating he p ip or attachment, of spaced projections or prot'r'iid- (I th inv tio I have shown it in connection ing objects on material being operated u'pon bye hIa n w typev o s w sma or s'ew-' machine. V V ihg fastener elenieritssuch as hooks or eyes upon Anotherobjectof theinvention is top'rovide ab c, tape n ha sh t e invention anantomatic meehanisjmof the oharae'ter jdmb ie n me for o t a t ppi scribed l in me be d sp ed n the bath h Sewing ma h h n any 6f i fii ne e: in'ovement of thepm'jectionsor pmt am'g 613-. e nt is m ss ne i mi p cedmptop rly V, jects as thewo 'k passes'through'the r'r'i'achine so S i fi g h p .l Sh u d h UndeiS go that said member is actuated in accordance with h h invent on ma be mhddi n fi oth r t the presence or absence, or the accuracy 0f 10- i h ifi i h details (if o cation or attaohin'ent or the' projeotions or ,olji ut ep tin o the it c p of h jeots, whereby a signal is actuatd' or the ma nl ifi On f j chine is stopped, or an electric circuit is" closed Be f g 't ra in s in w i PQ or'opened, when any of said projections or ob m dj like parts e d i n d mu b jects s misplaced or missing r is n mc t y the several views by the same reference char attached to the work. I i fl j V j Afurthei objectis to prQvide in mechanism fire 1 isa side elevation of a sewin m of thischa ac a sp in o ra i y actuated ii f m qd in an e t i i me h s 'memberfin' the path of m'ovement of thegprbjeo donstl l oted in aeoordan'ce with the invention,

tion or objects to jbe engaged qire'etly or i 'dj' portions being broheh'atvay for clearness in ilre'etly by the'p -ojectionsor objects and aetul ustirationl ated inonefdirection against the spring or gravi- Figu e 2' is an end elevation of the sewing ma tational ihfi uence by the objeots'whijch are propchine, showing abortion of the circuit control ea l c te .enda taeh t th 'qwo nd aw chanism in e t a io m ted in the other direction by the spring ten- Figures 3, 1'7 a'ndlBare schema-tic illustrations sion which is insgfiieient to overcome the reof the' automaticstop' mechanism. 4 sistaneejto movement of the properly attached Fignres' 4 and 5 are views similar to Figures projeotions or objects past said member; but 1 and 2 espectively, showing a modifiedfoifm' of which will prevent the passage of improperly attheinvention. 1 tached projections or objects, sqasto oatiseactm v Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing ation of the signal onstopping' of theimaohine', the automatic stop nechanismill'ustrated in Figetc. upon thejapproa-ch of the improperly ate ul e's i and 5 and Y v tached projeetion' or objec't orwhenan object is Figures '7 fi 1. and 1;9 t0 24 ino1 usive' are sane misplaced." v A: I matiewviews of moldifioations of the invention, Further objects are to provide automatic mech-' Specifically describing the embodiment of the anism of" the feharacte r' desoribed inelgding' a inventionillustpated'in Figures 1 to3 inclusive; novel andimprovled combination of such n e'm-j the reference chaiacter fA designates the frame ber s ande1ectrioa1 tjeontrol'nieohaniszn ior ofa sewing niachine whjohhas the usual drive shaft B which is shown as driven through a belt and pulley connection C from an electric motor D. The machine includes a needle bar E of known construction which is actuated by the usual drive mechanism. The machine is in general similar to that shown in my- Patent No.-1,742,221, to which reference may be had for a more detailed description.

The machine is shown for" sewing hook or eye fastener elements F upon a fabric tape G, the method of sewing and construction of the tape being Well known in the art. The tape or work is fed beneath the needle bar past'the sewing point'by feed rollers H of known construction such as is shown inmy above-mentioned patent.

In accordance with the invention, automatic mechanism is provided for controlling the power transmitter of the sewing machine, for example for stopping the motor D and thereby the needle bar E, when the thread breaks, or when the supply of thread upon the bobbin is exhausted, or when the fastener elements are not properly stitched upon the tape, or whenanyof the fastener elements is misp'laced'or entirely'missing. For this'purpose I have shown a'feeler 1 pivotally mounted intermediateit's ends at 2 on the bed of the machine, and having a finger 3 normally influenced toward the tape G beyond the sewing point, into'the path ofjmovement of the fastener elements F, by a spring 4 engaging the other end of the feeler. The feeler carries a contact spring 5 at theend opposite the'fingerS, and said contact spring cooperates with a contact screw 6, mounted, upon the bed ofthe'machine and insulated therefrom. The spring 4 normally influences the feeler so as to maintain engagement between the contact spring 5 and the con-v tact screw 6, but when a properly sewed fastener element engages the finger 3, the feeler is actuated 'to disengage the contact spring 5 and screw 6. The spring tension exerted by the spring 4 is such as to overcome the resistance of an improperly sewed fastener element so that when a fastener element which is not sewed or is insufliciently sewed upon the tape reaches the finger 3, the feeler resists further movement of said fastener element and the tape "continues 'to' move beneath the feeler, and relatively to'the fastener element, and accordingly the contact spring 5 and screw[6 remain; in engagement, so as to causestopping of the machine as hereinafter described. The relation of the spring strip 5 to the finger 3 and the screw 6, and the relative strength of the spring contact 5 and the spring 4, are such that'the finger 3 may be moved upwardly a considerable distance without breaking the contact 5, 6 so that a partially sewed fastener element which might havesufiicient strength to partially raise the finger but not enough strength to completely raise it, will fail to break the contact ,5, 6

arranged at one point on the inner surface of the insulating ring 9 to be engaged by a contact roller 11 mounted ona shaft 12 connected by worm and worm wheel gearing 13 to the drive shaftfB of the machine through an insulating coupling 14. This contact roller 11 is connected in an electrical circuitby a'follower spring 15: riding ina groove 16 in a disc 17 upon which the roller is mounted, said follower spring being mounted upon and insulated from the bracket 8 and having a binding post 18.

"The timer switch and the switch 5, 6 are related to each other and to the proper predetermined spacing of the fastener elements F on the tape G so that the roller 11 is rotated by the shaft 12 in regular cycles and engages the contact block 10 asynchronously with the engagement of the contact spring 5 and screw 6 when the fastener elements are properly spaced and sewed upon the fabric tape. In other words, when the switch 5, 6 is closed, the switch 10, 11 is opened and vice versarand in accordance with the invention the sewing machine is stopped only when both switches are closed at the same time.

The switch 5, 6 and the timer switch are connected in circuit as shown in Figures 3, 17 and 18 of the drawings to control an electromagnet 19 which in turn actuates a switch 20 connected in circuit with themotor D.

In operation of the mechanism the switch 20 is normally closed to cause operation of the motor" D and consequently the sewing mechanism which includes the usual bobbin I., When the 3, movement of the fastener element will be stopped, while the tapewillcontinue to move, so that the finger 3 willlremain in engagement with the tape, and the switch 5, 6 will remain closed for a period longer than the normal during which the timerswitch '10, 11 will be closed; whereupon the 'electromagnet 19 will be energized so as to 'open the switch 20 and stop the motor, as shown in'Figure 18 Similarly, should a fastener element be missing or misplaced on the tape, the

switch 5, 6 will remain closed longer than the normalperiod, and the switch 20 will be opened in the'same manner to stop the machine. Obviously, a breaking of the thread or the exhaustion in a fastener element being insufficiently sewed or unsewed upon the tape, so that the machine will be stopped either upon breaking of the thread or exhaustion of the supply. t

A modification of the invention is shown. in Figures to 6 inclusive and includes a feeler 21 identical in construction an'd'arrangement with the feeler 1 and having, a contact spring 22'corresponding to the contact spring 5. This contact spring cooperates with a contact screw 23 carried by and insulated from one end of a lever 24 pivotally mounted intermediate its ends at 25 on the bed of the machine and having a roller 26 at its other end which follows a cam 2'7 mounted on the.shaft.12. Thiswcam has the main portion 28 of its periphery concentric with the shaft and is provided with a cam notch '29 so that the lever 24 is periodically oscillated. The oscillation of thelever is timed with respect to the oscillation of the feeler 21 so that when the fastener.

elements F are'properly located and sewed upon the tape G, the contacts 22, 23 remain in spaced relation and move simultaneously in the same direction. When an improperly sewed fastener element engages the. feeler 21,,the feeler is not actuated and remains stationary for a period longer than normal during which the contact screw 23 is brought into engagement with the of the supply-of thread on the bobbin will result t5 isopenedltostop'themazhine.

contact spring 22. -A similar action takes place when afastener element is misplaced or missing.

The contactspring 22 andscrew 23 are connected in an electrical circuit with an electromagnet39 as shown inFigure 6 of the drawings, and this electromagnetcontrols a switch 31 corresponding to theswitch shownin Figure 3. The operation of the mechanism is similar to that of themechanism shown-in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, the switch 31 being normally closedto cause operation of the motor D and the magnet being energized uponengagement of the'contacts 22, 23-so as to .open the switch31 and-stop the motor.

Another modification of the. invention is schematically illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 of the drawings wherein areutilized two feelers-32 and 33 each substantially identical in construction with the feeler 1 and both being arranged beyond the sewing point. Thesefeelers are spaced apart sothat' theirfingers 34 and 35 are disposed in the path of movement of the fastener elements F, and each'has a contactlsprin'g 36 cooperating with a contact screw 3'7, whereby the feelers are asynchronously actuated when the fastener elesewed upon the tape or is misplaced or missing,

both contacts 36, .37 are closed at the sametime as shown in Figure 8 of the drawings. These contacts are connected in circuit with an electromagnet 38 which controls a switch-39 connected in circuitwith the motor D, and the operation of theapparatus is substantiallythe same, as that hereinbefore described, the switch 39 being normally closed to cause operation of the motor and being automatically opened to stop the motor when both contacts 36,37 are closed-as the result of an improperly sewed, misplaced or missing fastenerelement. a 1

Inthe form of .theinvention shown'in Figures 9 and 10 of the drawings, one feeler 39 is utilized.

' The fingerAO of the feelerhasan elongated sur- 1 recedes from the. surface-t1, the. forward end of said surface is brought into the path of movement ofthe nextsucceeding fastener element as shown in 9,. andshouldsaidifastener element be sewed, it will .pass beneath the feeler finger 40 and-maintain the contact:42,.43 open; However, shouldan unsewed fastener element approach the feeler finger, thesfastener element will be stopped .by the finger as shown in FigurelO of the drawings; and the next preceding fastener L element willpass from beneath the'feeler finger so as to permit the feeler finger to drop to the. tape andthereby close'the. contacts 42, 43 as shown in Figure 10. The contact screw-43 and the contactspring 42 are connected in a grounded-circuit with anelectromagnet 44 which controls a switch 45in circuit-with the motor D;; and. when the fastenerjelementsare properly spacedand sewed, the switch 45 is held closed, while when a:fas.-. tenet element is unsewed cit-misplaced, the switch its under-surface.

Figures lland 12 show anothermodification of the inventioninwhich one feeler 46 is utilized and hasafinger .47provided withanotch .48 on Thefeeler is also provided with'a contact point 49 cooperating with a contact strip 50, and the contact point .49 and the strip 59 are connectedin circuit with an electromagnet 51-and-a timer switch 52 identical with that shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. When the fastener elements are properly located and stitched upon the tape, theyenter the notch 48 but slip past and overcome the resistanceof the feeler spring 53, but-when the fastener elements are-improperly stitchedthey are caught or held in'the-notch 48 bythe resistance of thespring53, as shown in Figure 12. During operation of the mechanism and while-the fasteners are properly stitched and spaced thecontacts 49 and and the timer contacts are asynchronously openedand closed as hereinbefore described, but when a fastener element is caught in the notch 48, the contacts 49, 50 are held closed for a period longer than the normal during which the timer contactsare closed so as to complete the circuit and stop the machine.

Figures 13 to 16 inclusiveshow the same typeof mechanism illustrated in Figures 11 and-l2 used in connection with-eyefastener elements K instead of hook fastener elements, and the eye fastener elements are covered by a strip of fabric L. The eyes form projections beneath the fabric L which engage the feelers, so that the feelers are indirectly actuated by the eyes instead of directly. V

The invention is also'adaptable for use with socalled .eyeleted tape in which the fastener elements-are in the form ,of eyelets, as shown in Figures .19 and .20. Here a single feeler 59 is' utilized and hasa finger 60 of a length to simultaneouslyengage and span the distance between two fastener elements, as shown in igure 19. Thestitching 61 passes through the eyelets and projects abovethe upper side thereof, and-when all of theeyelets are properly located and stitched, the feeler contacts 62 and -63 ar e held out of engagement. However, when an unstitchedeyelet. passes beneath the feeler, the absence of the stitching permits the feeler finger to descend as shown in Figure 20 to close the contacts-62, 63; and a similar action takes place whenan eyelet is missing or out of place. The contacts 62, 63 are connected in circuit with an electromagnet 64 which controls a switch 65 connected in circuit with the motor D, so that the motor is automatically stopped when an unstitched eyelet passes beneath the feeler fingenor when an eyelet is misplaced or missing.

Figures 21 and 22-show a somewhat similar construction wherein the feeler 66 has a finger 67 like that of the feeler 1, to engage only one eyelet at a and the feeler controls contacts. 68, 69 which are-connected in circuit with a timer 70. When the eyelets are properly located and stitched, the contacts .68, 69 are held out of engagementand the machine continues to run, but

when an unstitched eyeletpasses beneath the feeler, thecontacts 68,69 areclosed fora period longer than normal during which the timer contacts are also closed so as to stop the machine as' shown in-Figure .22.

In all of the constructions hereinbefore described, theufastener element forms no-part of the circuit, but it .is'=possible to includethe fastener .elementin the circuit to serve as one of the: switchesor contacts. .Sucha construction is.

in general similar to the feeler 1 and is directly connected in circuit with an electromagnet 72.

The feeler finger 73 is normally insulated from or held out of engagementwith a stitched fastener element by thestitching 74 as shown in Figure 23. The surface 75 over which the eyelet'of the fastenerelement passes-is grounded-or otherwise connected in the circuit as shown, and when the "stitching is omitted, the fastener element 'is brought into direct Contact with both the feeler finger 73 and the surface '75 so as to form a closed circuit through the electromagnet 72 This mag' net controls a-m'agnetic switch '76 which in turn controls the motor D so that whenthe'eyelets are properly stitched the motor continues to run, but when an unstitched eyelet passesbeneath the feeler finger, the motor is stopped.

'While'I have shown the relay switch 19, 20 as the electrical device to be operatedand to stop the motor D; obviously any other desired device could be controlled as is the relay, for example an electromagnetic clutch; and such a clutch could be arrangedbetween the motor-D and the drive shaft of the sewing machine to control the operation of the machine instead of controlling the circuit of the motor D as shown.

Other modifications of the invention'will readily occur to those skilled in the art, therefore I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself, except as required by the following claims construed in the light'of the prior art.

Having thus described my invention,' what I claim is: V

' 1. The combination with a sewing machine including sewing'mechanismfor sewing spaced objects, upon work, and means for moving the work with the objects thereon past the sewing point, of a feeler beyond the sewing point to engage said objects, and means controlled by said feeler to stopthe machine when an insufiiciently sewed objecten'gages the feeler, said feeler engaging said objects in one relation'when the objects are properly spaced and sewed and engaging the objects in another relation when the latter are insufficiently sewed. w 7

2. The combination with a sewing machineincluding sewing mechanism for sewing spaced objects upon work and means for moving the work with the objects thereon past the sewing point, of a feeler beyond the sewing point normally yieldingly influenced into thepath of said objects to engage them, said feeler being temporarily moved out of said path by properly sewed objects and resisting movement by and remaining in' the path of insufiiciently sewed objects, and means controlled by'said feeler to stop said machine when an insufficiently sewed object engages-said feeler. V

3. The combination with a sewing machine including sewing mechanism for sewing spaced objects upon work and means for moving the work with the objects thereon past the sewing point, of means for stopping said machine including a plurality of relatively movable devices one of which is beyond the sewing point and is normally engaged by said objects, and means'controlled'by said devices to stop said machine when said devices reacha certain relation to each other, said devices being normally actuated out of "said certain relation when the objects are properly sewed and reaching said certain relation when an object'is insufficiently sewed.

4. The combination with a sewing machine including sewing mechanism for sewing spaced ob' shown in Figures23 and 24 where-the feeler ll-is,

jects upon work and means for movingthe work with the objects thereon past the sewing point, ofmeans for producing a certain result including a plurality of relatively movable devices one of which is beyond the sewing point and is normally yieldingly influenced into the path of movement of said objects'so as to betemporarily moved out of said path by-properly sewed objects and resist movement by and remainflin the path of insufliciently sewed objects, said devices cooperating when they reach a certain relation to cause said result to be produced and being actuated out of said certain relation when the objects are properly sewed and reaching said certain relation when an object is insufficiently sewed.

5. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said means for the stopping of the machine is electrically operated, and said devices control the electric circuit of said means.

6. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said means controlled by the feeler is electrically operated, and said feeler controls the electric circuit thereof.

"17'. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein said means controlled by the feeler is electrical and said feeler controls the electric circuit through said means. I

8. The combination set forth in claim 3, wherein said means for stopping the machine is electrically operated, and each of said devices includes a switch in circuit with said means so that said switches are asynchronously opened a and closed when said-objects arefproperly sewed and both are closed at the same time when an object is insumciently sewed to actuate said means to stop the machine.

9. The combination with a sewing machine including mechanism for sewing spaced objects upon work, and means for moving the work with the objects thereon past' the sewing point, of mechanism for stopping said machine including a feeler normally yieldingly influenced into the path of movement of said objects'and actuated out of said path by'each said object passing beneath said feeler, and means operating in. timed relation'to the desired spacing of said objects, said feeler and said means operating asynchronously while said objects are properly spaced and cooperating to stop the machine upon failure of actuation of said feeler by an objects.

10. The combination with a sewing machine including mechanism for sewing spaced. objects upon work, and means for moving the work with the objects thereon past the sewing point, of

mechanism for stopping said machine including'a feeler normally yieldingly influenced into the path of movement of said objects and actuated out of said path by each said object passing beneath said feeler, a switch actuated by said feeler and closed except when said feeler is actuated by an object, a second switch in circuit with the first switch and closed in timed relation to the desired spacing of said objects asynchronously with the first switch, and an-ielectrical device in said circuit actuated only when both said switches are closed at the same time to stop said machine.

11. The combination set forth in claimlO wherein said feeler is constructed to resist actuation by an insufiiciently sewed object so that the switch actuated by said feeler remains closed when an insufliciently sewed object engages the feeler;

12. The combination setforth in claim 4, wherein said meansfor stoppingthe machine is electrically operated, and eachof said devices includes a switch in circuit with said means so that said switches are asynchronously opened and closed when said objects are properly sewed and both are closed at the same time when an object is insufliciently sewed to actuate said means to stop the machine.

13. The combination with a sewing machine including sewing mechanism for sewing spaced objects upon work, and means for moving the work with the objects thereon past the sewing point, of a feeler beyond the sewing point to engage said objects, and a device controlled by said feeler to produce a certain result when an insufiiciently sewed object engages said feeler, said feeler engaging said objects in one relation when the objects are properly spaced and sewed and engaging the objects in another relation when the latter are insufiicienty sewed.-

14. The combination with a sewing machine including sewing mechanism for sewing spaced objects upon work, and means for moving the work with the objects thereon past the sewing point, of a feeler beyond the sewing point to engage said objects, said feeler engaging said objects in one relation when the objects are properly sewed and engaging the objects in another relation when the latter are insufficiently sewed, an electrical switch closed by said feeler when an insufficiently sewed object engages the feeler, and an electrical device for producing a certain result controlled by said switch.

15.,The combination with a sewing machine for sewing spaced objects on work including sew ing mechanism and means for moving the work past the sewing point, of a movable feeler in the path of movement of said objects and of a predetermined length to be engaged simultaneously by two adjacent properly spaced objects, and means controlled by said feeler to produce a certain result when said objects become improperly spaced.

16. The combination with a sewing machine for sewing spaced objects on work including sewing mechanism for making stitches over and projecting above the objects, and means for moving the work past the sewing point, of a feeler normally influenced into the path of movement of said objects beyond the sewing point and of a predetermined length to be engaged simultaneously by the projecting stitching of two properly spaced and sewed objects and moved out of said path thereby, and means controlled by said feeler to produce a certain result when said j feeler is engaged solely by an insufllciently sewed object.

sewing point to be electrically insulated from 7 said objects by said stitching, a conductor to be normally insulated by said stitching from said objects, and electrically operated means for producing a certain result connected in circuit with said feeler and said conductor and actuated when said feeler directly engages an unstitched object and said object directly contacts with said conductor.

18. The combination with a sewing machine including sewing mechanism for sewing spaced objects upon work and means for moving the work with the objects thereon past the sewing point, of a plurality of normally relatively movable devices one of which is continuously movable in regular cycles and the other of which is in the path of movement of said objects and actuated by each passing object, and means controlled by said devices for producing a certain result when said devices reach a certain relation to each other, said devices being normally actuated out of said certain relation and reaching said certain relation upon failure of actuation of the second-mentioned device by an object.

r19. The combination with a sewing machine including sewing mechanism for sewing spaced objects upon work, and means for moving the work with the objects thereon past the sewing point, of means for producing a desired result including a plurality of relatively movable devices one of which is continuously movable in regular cycles and the other is yieldingly influ enced into the path of movement of said objects beyond the sewing point to be engaged and actuated by each properly sewed and spaced object which engages the device, the second-mentioned device resisting actuation by insufficiently sewed objects, and means controlled by said devices for producing a certain result when said devices reach a certain relation to each other, said devices being normally actuated out of said certain relation and reaching said certain relation upon failure of actuation of the secondmentioned device by an object.

LEO ROSEMAN.

ill) 

